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H. R. FREUND.

MATRIX FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 3.1919.

Patented J an. 13, 1920. Q

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HERMAN R. FREUND, 0F BROOKLYN, ITEVT YORK, ASSIGNGR TO INTERTYPECORPORA- TION, (3F BROOKLYN, NEVJ YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MATRIX FOB TYPQGBAPHICAL MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed November 3, 1919. Serial No. 385,305.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN R. FREUND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Matrices for TypographicalMachines, of which the following is a specification The presentinvention relates to improvements in matrices for typographicalmachines, and more especially to those of the type which circulatethrough the machine from the magazine to the casting point and aresubsequently returned to the magazine by distributing mechanism whichembodies a ribbed combination rail from which the matrices hang or aresuspended, and from which the matrices drop at the entrances of therespective magazine channels.

Typographical machines of the linotype class employ circulating matriceswhich cooperate with a combination rail in the manner described and thehandling of thin matrices in the manner stated presented no seriousdifficulty while these matrices were used. More recent developments intypographical machines, however, require the use of very thick matricesto enable the casting of large face display or advertising typecharacters, and the handling of such thick matrices in the same mannerusual with thin matrices has presented certain difficulties, due primarily to the fact that the teeth which support the matrix while itadvances along the combination rail of the distributer have beenheretofore relatively short in length and were located at the advanceside of the matrix, while the center of weight of the matrix is locatedabout midway between the advance and rear sides of the matrix, inconsequence of which the matrix, when so constructed, will hang from theribbed combination rail in an inclined position instead of an upright orplumb position. This has resulted in faulty or improper distribution ofthe matrices and it has also caused disengagement of the matrices fromthe con veyer screws which are used to advance the matrices along thecombination rail.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved matrix which is capable of use in the casting of large typesuch as those employed for advertising and display printing and whichobviates all of the objections herein referred to, the matrix, accordingto the present invention having its supporting teeth so formed andarranged that the matrix will be suspended in a true vertical or uprightposition as it travels along the combination rail, and hence correctdistribution of the matrices is insured and the disengagement of thematrices from the conveyor screws is prevented.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a perspective view of apartially completed matrix to be made in accordance with the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the matrix in a further stageof completion.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the matrix showing it in a still furtherstage of completion.

Fig. l is a perspective View of the matrix in its complete form, exceptthat it has a full set of teeth instead of a combination of teeth andtooth spaces.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the ribbed combination railof the distributer showing thereon at the right a matrix constructed inaccordance with the present invention, and at the left a matrix asheretofore constructed.

6 is a perspective view of a wide matrix as heretofore constructed, and

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of a finished matrix constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

The matrices constructed in accordance with the present invention areapplicable generally to typographical machines of the type wherein thematrices circulate through the machine and then are supported duringtheir circulation by teeth formed in the matrix and which engage aribbed rail or equivalent member. The improved matrices are especiallyapplicable to typographical machines of the well known linotype class,wherein the matrices during distribution are suspended from a rail orbar which is provided with combinations of ribs to engage thecombinations of teeth on the matrices, whereby each matrix will dropfrom the combination rail at the proper point, to enter the respectivematrix channel in the magazine. In the present instance, Fig. 5 shows acombination rail 1 which corresponds to the combination rail of adistributer such as that commonly used in typographical machinBS, 0f thelinotype class,

the lower edge of this combination rail being il-shaped, with theconvergent sides thereof formed with combinations of ribs 2, thecombinations of ribs corresponding to the combinations of teeth formedin the matrices to distin nish the difiierent matrices of the font andto cause the matrices to drop from the rail as they reach the ap'propriate channels of the magazine.

I-Ieretofore it has been attempted to use wide matrices adapted foradvertising or display printing, in typographical machines of this typeadapted for the handling of the usually relatively thin matrices. F1wide faced matrix, such as those heretofore used, is shown in Fig. 6, itcomprising a wide body X to conform with the relatively wide type face aand teeth I to engage the combination rail and thus support the matrixduringdistribution. 'Ihese teeth, however, as heretofore constructed,have been relatively narrow, as shown in Fig. 6, and they have beenlocated wholly at one side of the matrix. When a matrix of theconstruction shown in Fig. 6 is applied to the combination rail it willassume a position such as that assumed by the matrix X in Fi 5. In otherwords, the matrix will hang in an inclined position, owing to therelative shortness of the supporting teeth on the matrix and thelocation of these teeth at the advance side of the matrix. In using therelatively thin matrices, no serious diliiculty has been caused by thehanging of the matrices out of plumb, but where relatively thickmatrices, such, for example, as those shown are used, the weight ofthese matrices, which is considerable, and the degree to which thesupporting teeth in the matrix are oflset relatively to the center ofweight of the matrix, causes these thick matrices to sag or incline tosuch a degree as to interfere seriously with the handling of thematrices, it giving rise particularly to faulty distribution or thematrices as the matrices will not always drop from the combination railat the exact point intended, they will drop in an inclined or twistedposition instead of in an upright position, thereby interfering withtheir proper reception by the channel en rance of the magazine, andfurthermore, sagging or tilting of the matrices is likely to causedisengagement of the matrices from the conveyor screws which advance thematrices along the combination rail. These faults in the handling ofwide matrices, as heretofore constructed with the narrow supportingteeth offset wholly to one side of the center of weight of the matrix,are aggravated or increased by wear as it develops upon the matrixsupporting teeth and the ribs of the combination rail.

The present invention provides an improved matrix which obviates thesedi'liiculties which have been previously experienced, and it insurescorrect handling and distribution of the matrices. According to thepresent invention the supporting teeth of the matrix are so formed thatthe matrix will hang in a true upright or vertical position, asindicated, for example, by the matrix M at the right of Fig. 5. Itconsists broadly in providing a matrix with supporting teeth whichextend across a vertical plane passing through the center of weight ofthe matrix. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the matrixsupporting teeth are of graduated or varying lengths, the, longer teethbeing located at the top of the matrix and the shorter teeth beinglocated toward the body of the matrix, the longest teeth preferably;extending over half way across the matrix. Inasmuch as these longestsupporting teeth on the matrix extend more than half way across thematrix and the center of Weight of the matrix is about midway of, thethickness of the matrix, the matrix in consequence will hang verticallyon the distributor instead of tipping or sagging at an angle thereto, asindicated by the old form of matrix X in Fig. 5. If. all the supportingteeth of the matrix were made long or wide to conform, for example, withthe length of the uppe teeth, the movement of the matrices along theribbed. combination rail would be facilitated, but in pr cticeit wouldbe a diflicult and expensive operationto punch orbroach the teeth at thepoint where the space between them is narrowest, that is to "say, at ornear the apex of the V-shaped notch formed in the matrix, and the twolower teeth of the series would probably require a very delicate punchand a great many successive operations for finish ing.

The preferred mode of constructing the matrices is representeddiagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 1, inclusive, which represent theeconomical method of manufacturingthe matrices, and' the matrices thusproducer will utilize the advantages tobe obtained by the use of thewide or long supporting teeth in the matrices. In Fig. 1 the matrixcomprises the matrix body with type characters therein and the usuallugs on the corners thereof, and a cavity 3, preferably cylindrical inform, is drilled or otherwise formed vertically to extend from thebottom to the top of the matrix body. The boc y of the matrix ispreferably provided. with this cavity as it reduces the weight of thematrix, and hence the falling of the matrix by gravity through themagazine is less apt to cause damage either to the matrix or to theparts of the machine which it may come in contact with. In this figureof the drawing the upper end of the matrix is left blank in-so far asthe combination teeth are concerned.

Fig. 2 shows the matrix after the next operation has been performedthereon. This.

than half the thickness of the matrix. This recess 4 intersects thecavity 3 and it is of a width sufficient to remove the metal of thematrix which would otherwise require re moval or would require punchingthrough in the formation of the supporting teeth.

Fig. 3 shows the matrix after the next step in its manufacture has beencompleted. This later step consists in milling the top of the matrixwith a stepped cutter which forms the parallel steps 5 which correspondin location and arrangement to the teeth which are to be subsequentlyformed in the matrix.

Fig. A represents the matrix after the steps 5 have been converted intoundercut teeth 6. The teeth 6 are formed by a punching or broachingoperation.

Owing to the presence of the cavity 3 which extends vertically throughthe body of the matrix, the lower teeth which are relatively closetogether are of a minimum length, and hence the punching or breachingoperation necessary to form these teeth, an operation which requires adelicate punch or broach, may be performed without requiring theexercise of a considerable amount of power or pressure. Also, owing tothe presence of the cavity 3, which extends through the body of thematrix, the teeth become longer as the top of the matrix is approachedthe uppermost teeth being of greatest length and of a length to extendpreferably more than half way across the thickness of the matrix so thatthese longer teeth will overlie a vertical plane passing through thecenter of weight of the matrix, in consequence of which the matrix willbe caused to hang in a true vertical position from the combination rail.

After the teeth have been formed in the matrices, as shown, for example,in Fig. 417 the matrices may be provided with the different toothcombinations corresponding to the different combinations of ribs on thecombination rail, one of these tooth combinations being shown in Fig. 7.

The present invention enables the production of relatively wide matriceswhich are capable of being handled efficiently and without difli cultyin typographical machines of the types using circulating matrices whichare supported during distribution by combinations of teeth on thematrices which engage similar combinations of ribs on a distributingrail. The relatively long supporting teeth of the matrix prevent tiltingor sagging of the matrices during their advance along the supportingrail so that correct distribution of the matrices is insured. Byconstructing the matrices in the preferred manner herein set forth,substantial advantages in the manufacture of the matrices are alsoattained, as the recess which is cut in the upper rear corner of thematrix leaves the uppermost teeth of such length that they will insuresupport of the matrix in an upright position, while the cavity whichextends through the body of the matrix reduces the amount of metalrequiring removal in the forming of the lower teeth which are relativelyclose together and require the use of a delicate punch or broach. Thegraduation in the length of the teeth from the shortest teeth at theapex to the longest teeth at the top of the V-shaped notch whichcontains these teeth, is preferably determined, as shown, by theintersection of this V-shaped notch with the central vertical cavity inthe matrix, which is preferably circular in cross section, although itmay be otherwise shaped in cross section.

I claim as my invention- 1. A relatively thick matrix adapted for use intypographical machines of the type embodying a distributer rail alongwhich circulating matrices are adapted to travel, said matrix havingdistributer teeth of different lengths measured in the direction of thethickness of the matrix, the longer teeth intersecting a plane passingvertically through the center of weight of the matrix.

2. A circulating matrix having convergingly-disposed distributer teethof varying lengths, the teeth toward the apex being relatively short andthe teeth remote from the apex being relatively long.

3. A circulating matrix having a cavity extending verticallytherethrough, a recess formed in the upper rear corner thereof andextending partially through the thickness of the matrix and intersectingsaid cavity, and a V-shaped notch formed in its forward upper corner andintersecting said cavity, the conver ent walls of said notch beingformed with distributer teeth, the teeth toward the apex of the notchbeing short and the teeth remote from the apex of the notch being'ofprogressively increasing lengths.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HERMAN R. FREUND. Witnesses:

THOMAS S. HoMANs, CHAS. O. PARKS.

